Apple has sent out press invites to a special event on 10 September when the company is expected to unveil the new iPhone 5S and 5C as well as confirm a release date for iOS 7.

Things heated up as an email entitled ‘This should brighten everyone’s day’ was sent out to the press along with an invite to an event at 10:00 Pacific Time at the Apple Campus in Cupertino on 10 September.

It’s widely expected the event will reveal the new iPhone 5S and affordable 5C in addition to there being a formal release date given for the firm’s new mobile operating system, iOS 7.

Apple are breaking out the iPhone 5C in order to target emerging markets around the world as the Cupertino based company competes with the likes of Samsung for market share.

The iPhone 5C, with the C standing for colour, has been the subject of fevered speculation all summer with the device likely to be available in green, white, red, blue and yellow.

As far as the device specifications go it’s expected to come with a dual-core CPU, tri-core GPU, 8-megapixel camera and, for the most part, will be very similar to the current iPhone 5. The price point is rumoured to be around $300 [£194].

The iPhone 5S, meanwhile, will offer an up-to-date version of the iPhone 5 and could even be available in a new champagne colour-way. The main change to the flagship smartphone will be a larger screen and the possible inclusion of NFC technology.

It’s heavily rumoured the iPhone 5C will help them sign a deal with China Mobile that will see the device available on the country’s largest mobile phone network and give Apple a leg up against Samsung’s huge market share in the country.